History and Terroir

Federico Graziani began pursuing his passion for wine back in 1990. At the young age of 15, he enrolled in a local wine tasting course, and shortly after, decided to pursue a sommelier career. In 1998, Federico was named Best Italian Sommelier by the Italian Association of Sommeliers, which gave him the opportunity to work alongside a handful of industry greats, including Gualtiero Marchesi, Aimo and Nadia Moroni, and more. In 2006, Federico furthered his studies of viticulture and oenology—which also happened to be the same year he met Sicilian winemaking legend Salvo Foti. That same year, Federico headed to Sicily with Foti to deepen his experience in the area’s ancient viticultural areas, specifically within the Etna region. He was immediately fascinated by the complexity and distinctive nature of the area’s volcanic-influenced wines. As fate would have it, a century-old vineyard was about to be uprooted, which led Federico to purchase it. Today, Federico farms a handful of vineyard plots at the foot of Mt. Etna, which are planted at altitudes ranging from 600-1,200 meters above sea level. The vineyards’ proximity to the sea helps creates natural aeration for the vines, as well as moderates the area’s overall climate. The high ash and pumice content in Etna’s soils make them very rich in minerals, as well as create fertile environments for vines to thrive.

Farming and Winemaking

With regards to viticulture and vinification, Federico focuses mostly on indigenous Sicilian grape varieties, including Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, Alicante, and Francisi (reds) and Carricante, Minnella, and Grecanico (whites). His winemaking style is one centered around low intervention, as he is committed to making the most honest, terroir-driven wines as possible. As Federico himself says: “A wine doesn’t need to be perfect, it needs to be authentic.” Fermentations take place with native yeasts in open vats, while aging is done mostly in a combination of new and used tonneaux. Federico has devoted his life’s work to understanding the complexities of viticulture and vindication, yet remains sensitive to the unique personality that each variety, vineyard, and specific plant has. This careful attention to nuance is one of the many reasons why Federico’s wines have become so loved; they’re expressive and thoughtful, and above all, deeply represent the place from which they come.